Olga's Gallery

Old Testament Notes

David

David is the most popular hero of the Bible, his story is told in The
First and in the Second Books of Samuel. He descended from the tribe of
Judah, started his career as a shepherd, and was anointed by the prophet
Samuel,
'And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward'
(1 Samuel 16:13).
At the age of 18 David was admitted to king Saulís
entourage as a musician. The main concern of the king was the war with
the Philistines, among whom fought the giant Goliath. David asked Saulís
permission to fight Goliath. David killed Goliath with a stone thrown from
his sling and then beheaded him with Goliath's own sword. On seeing this
the Philistine army fled.
See:CaravaggioDavid
with the Head of Goliath, David
with the Head of Goliath.Rembrandt.David
Playing the Harp before Saul, David
Presenting the Head of Goliath to King Saul.TitianDavid
and Goliath.

After this
victory, Saul made David a military commander and began to give him many
serious and dangerous tasks. Saul was jealous and afraid of David's popularity,
youth, strength, cleverness and hoped that during some of the battles he
would be killed. Meanwhile David found sympathy and support in Saul's own
family: the friendship with Saul's son Jonathan
lasted till the death of the latter, and Saul's daughter Michal
fell in love with David. She became David's wife and helped him to escape
her father's attempt to kill him. After several attempts on his life, David
fled to Samuel, where Saul did not dare arrest him.
See: Cima da Conegliano.David
and Jonathan.Rembrandt.Departing
of David and Jonathan

People
found out about David's situation 'and everyone who was discontented, gathered
to him; and he became captain to them' (1 Samuel 22:2). Thus David became
an outlaw and a leader of his personal army. There was an episode when
David could have killed Saul, when the latter was alone and unarmed, but
he refused to take advantage of the situation.
See: Count Feodor Tolstoy. David
Refuses to Kill Sleeping Saul.

The Philistines
managed to surround Saul with all his sons on the Mount Gilboa; the sons
were killed, to avoid capture Saul fell on his own sword. When David found
out about their death he mourned for them.
See: Jean Fouquet.Report
of Saul's Death to David.

After
Saulís death David became the king and unified his kingdom by capturing
Jerusalem. He made it his capital, constructed the royal palace there.
He is considered to be a great musician of the time and the author of the
Book of Psalms.
David had many wives, the most important of them were: Michal,
daughter of Saul; Abigal, who was able to calm Davidís anger; Bathsheba,
who gave birth to the next King of Jews, Solomon.
See: Ferdinand Bol.David's
Dying Charge to Solomon.Andrea del Castagno. The
Youthful David.Lucas Cranach the ElderDavid
and Bathsheba.Michelangelo David.Nicolas PoussinThe
Triumph of David.Andrea del Verrocchio David,
David.